Manoj Vengal

The prevalence of oral mucosal lesions in patients visiting a dental school in Southern India

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the prevalence of oral mucosal lesions in Manipal, Karnataka State, India. A total of 1190 subjects who visited the department of oral medicine and radiology for diagnosis of various oral complaints over a period of 3 months were interviewed and clinically examined for oral mucosal lesions. The result showed the presence of one or more mucosal lesions in (41.2%) of the population. Fordyces condition was observed most frequently (6.55%) followed by frictional keratosis (5.79%), fissured tongue (5.71%), leukoedema (3.78%), smokers palate (2.77%), recurrent aphthae, oral submucous fibrosis (2.01%), oral malignancies (1.76%), leukoplakia (1.59%), median rhomboid glossitis (1.50%), candidiasis (1.3%), lichen planus (1.20%), varices (1.17%), traumatic ulcer and oral hairy leukoplakia (1.008%), denture stomatitis, geographic tongue, betel chewers mucosa and irritational fibroma (0.84%), herpes labialis, angular cheilitis (0.58%), and mucocele (0.16%). Mucosal lesions like tobacco-related lesions (leukoplakia, smokers palate, oral submucous fibrosis, and oral malignancies) were more prevalent among men than among women. Denture stomatitis, herpes labialis, and angular cheilitis occurred more frequently in the female population.

Usefulness of salivary alpha amylase as a biomarker of chronic stress and stress related oral mucosal changes – a pilot study

Introduction: Salivary biomarkers are suggested to provide a reliable, noninvasive and objective measurement of chronic psychosocial stress and helps in assessment of pivotal role of stress in causation or precipitation of multitude of health problems. Objectives: To evaluate the usefulness of salivary alpha amylase activity as an objective indicator of chronic stress and to find out any correlation between stress- related mucosal complaints and its levels. Study Design: Study was conducted among 50 subjects suffering from chronic stress related problems and 50 non-stressed individuals who were screened with a psychometric questionnaire. Brief case history and oral examination was carried out and about one ml of unstimulated saliva was collected. Salivary alpha amylase levels estimated were compared between study and control group and between subjects with and without oral mucosal changes using non parametric Mann Whitney U test. Results: There was statistically significant higher salivary alpha amylase levels in study group (p =.002) and salivary alpha amylase between the oral mucosal complaints group and without oral mucosal complaints group within the total study population were found to be statistically significant (p=0.045). Conclusions: Salivary amylase activity increases in patients with chronic psychosocial stress and may be used as a biomarker of chronic stress, but it may not be an indicator to suggest the development of stress related oral mucosal changes. Key words:Salivary biomarker, salivary alpha amylase, psychosocial stress, sympathetic nervous system, oral mucosal changes.

Remodeling of the human mandible in the gonial angle region: a panoramic, radiographic, cross-sectional study

ObjectiveChanges in the gonial angle in relation to age, gender, and dental status were studied.Materials and methodsThe study cohort comprised 1000 patients (500 males and 500 females) who had panoramic radiographs taken for various purposes. The patients were categorized according to age, gender, and dental status. Panoramic radiographs were traced, and gonial angles were measured using a protractor.ResultsThe gonial angle tended to increase with age in both the male and female patients. The gonial angle also increased significantly as dental status changed from completely dentulous to partially dentulous to completely edentulous.ConclusionThe gonial angle increases with age and as teeth are lost.

Gorham disease involving the maxillofacial bones: A perplexing entity

Gorham disease is a rare disorder with progressive osteolysis which leads to the vanishing of bones. Its etiology and ideal management strategy are still an enigma. A case of Gorham disease involving the maxillofacial region in a 25-year-old male with an emphasis on etiology and diagnosis is discussed.

Hypoglossia Type 1A: Report of a case and review of literature with focus on clinical investigations

Hypoglossia is a rare entity which is reported sporadically. Hypoglossia has often occurred in an association with limb anomalies and, therefore, these cases have been grouped together as hypoglossia-hypodactylia within oromandibular limb hypogenesis syndromes. The literature on this condition is reviewed, and a case of hypoglossia has also been presented. An investigative protocol to aid in the treatment planning of a patient with hypoglossia has also been suggested.